Apotheosis of the Corsican phoenix

Napoleon, the "Corsican Phoenix," has built his nest on the top of a cragged mountain outcropping inscribed "Pyrenean Mountains." As a phoenix, Napoleon has the wings, talons, and body of a bird; however, the head is a likeness of Napoleon rendered in profile. Additionally, he wears a military collar and a decorated ribbon that reads "Cordon D' Honor." A cluster of bayonets and muskets forms the base of the nest. An egg-shaped globe resting in the nest bursts into flames. Rising off the terrestrial globe in terror, Napoleon's crown flies from his head and his talons release a scepter (l.) and a globe (r.). The engulfing flames have already begun to consume his outstretched wings and will soon spread to his body. A Dove of Peace descends from the top of the sheet; in its mouth it carries an olive branch; the phrase "Peace on Earth" is written on its wings. As it lowers, the dove forces a mass of thick clouds down over the Phoenix's fire, bringing behind it new, radiant light to the earth. The sheet has inscriptions in ink and in graphite at the bottom, under the plate mark [see texts]; small tears at edges of sheet, some staining, and discoloration; also some tape on the bottom edge of the reverse. Napoleon, the "Corsican Phoenix," has built his nest on the top of a cragged mountain outcropping inscribed "Pyrenean Mountains." As a phoenix, Napoleon has the wings, talons, and body of a bird; however, the head is a likeness of Napoleon rendered in profile. Additionally, he wears a military collar and a decorated ribbon that reads "Cordon D' Honor." A cluster of bayonets and muskets forms the base of the nest. An egg-shaped globe resting in the nest bursts into flames. Rising off the terrestrial globe in terror, Napoleon's crown flies from his head and his talons release a scepter (l.) and a globe (r.). The engulfing flames have already begun to consume his outstretched wings and will soon spread to his body. A Dove of Peace descends from the top of the sheet; in its mouth it carries an olive branch; the phrase "Peace on Earth" is written on its wings. As it lowers, the dove forces a mass of thick clouds down over the Phoenix's fire, bringing behind it new, radiant light to the earth. The sheet has inscriptions in ink and in graphite at the bottom, under the plate mark [see texts]; small tears at edges of sheet, some staining, and discoloration; also some tape on the bottom edge of the reverse. Published by Hannah Humphrey. Coupled with the verses inscribed at the bottom of the sheet, Gillray's image suggests that Napoleon brought about his ruin by his own machinations. After the Phoenix destroys himself, a new Phoenix will rise from the flames to 'illuminate the World.' Gillray left the nature of this new Phoenix open to the viewer's interpretation. 1808-08-02 Caption: "When the Phoenix is tired of Life, he builds a Nest upon the Mountains, and setting it on Fire by the wafting of his own Wings, he perishes himself in the Flames and from the smoke of his Ashes arises a new Phoenix to illuminate the World. --vide 'The New Spanish Encyclopedia, Ed....'" Caption: Published August 2, 1808 by H. Humphrey 29 St. James's Street Printed Signature: James Gillray inv. & fec. Annotation: [3 initials, possibly "PRB"] Annotation: 1808 Annotation: 4 Annotation: P. R. Bullard. 1817